De’Aaron Fox Earns Western Conference Player of the Week, Makes History in the Process

The Kings have many obstacles they need to overcome moving into the second part of the NBA season. Their bench needs help, they lack the ability to finish in big games, and the defense has to tighten up down the stretch. Still, one thing they are certainly not lacking is a superstar.

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

De’Aaron Fox has long been one of the best guards in the league. He exploded onto the scene after coming out of Kentucky, and built a strong shooting ability to go along with his speed, tenacious defense, and high basketball IQ.

He continued that high level pedigree over the past seven days, earning Western Conference Player of the Week for games played between November 11th and 17th. During that four game stretch, the lightning quick guard averaged 4.5 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 2 steals.

Even more impressive is that he averaged 40.5 points a game on a 57.4 percent shooting, 57.1 three-point percentage, and an 81.0 percent free throw percentage. He scored in droves, and seemed almost unstoppable once he got hot.

Those marks are high above anyone else this year, and show that Fox is truly one of the strongest point guards anywhere. He’s not just fast or tough, he can score, pass, and play strong defense as well.

Making A Mark on History

The above marks gave Fox his sixth Western Conference Player of the Week award, pushing him past ex-Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (5) for the second most in franchise history. He now just trails Sacramento legend Christ Webber in that category.

During that time, he also led the team in,

• Total points (162)
• Field goals made (58)
• Free throws made (34)
• Total clutch points (21)
• Clutch field goals made (7)

He was everywhere on the court, and even recorded his fourth double-double of the season (29 points, 10 assists) in a win against Phoenix on November 13th.

What truly put him over the top was when he set the single-game franchise scoring record in a tough overtime loss against the Timberwolves.

• Shooting 22-of-35 from the field, Fox scored an incredible 60 points, including 33 in the second half.

Though his tough performance didn’t lead to a Kings’ victory, it did further cement him as one of the greatest to ever wear the purple, silver, and black. His 33 second half points, 20 of which came in the fourth quarter, is the second-most by a Kings player since the 1996-97 season.

Respect from Around the League

Fox’s 60-point night put him on the map, but he didn’t stop there. He followed up the incredible performance with a 49 point game against the Jazz, giving him a stunning 109 points over the next 24 hours.

He’s just the third player in NBA history, alongside Kobe Bryant and Wilt Chamberlain to post 109-plus in consecutive days.

That’s great company for anyone to be in, and it brought attention from many other players from across the NBA.

Many athletes went online to congratulate him on the shooting performance, or to comment on the record-setting nights. That included DeMarcus Cousins, who reacted kindly to Fox overtaking several of his records.

He commented 💪🏿 on a recent post highlighting Fox’s scoring flurry, showing that everyone has their eyes on what he might do next. Fox himself even commented on his current play.

The 60 points puts Fox ahead of Jack Twyman’s 59 point performance in 1960 and DeMarcus Cousins’ 56-point performance for the franchise back in 2016.

Continuing the Trend

Fox is currently having another great year for the Kings. He’s averaging 28.8 points per game, 5 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.7 steals. Those put him among league leaders, and shows that he could push the Kings into the playoff conversation in a few months time.

His play isn’t just coming in garbage time, either. He’s keeping Sacramento in contests and pushing them to wins. Even when they come up short, he’s willing to put the team on his back.

The 60-point performance is the first in the NBA this year. Only Giannis Antetokounmpo, who put up 59 points against the Piston, has gotten close. It’s a great achievement, and something even the eve-humble Fox appreciates.

“Obviously, at the end of the day, that type of performance, that type of accomplishment, is nothing to just breathe over and let go,” he said. “It’s definitely cool.”

He shares the player of the week award with the Orlando Magic’s Franz Wagner, who earned similar honors in the Eastern Conference for 30.7 points per game, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists.

Check our recent NBA picks and predictions for today's matchups on our Ballislife Bets section.